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EASTON, Pa. – Events related to the 2023 Easton Twilight Criterium presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network (eastontwilightcrit.com) will result in street closures on Saturday, May 27, as the event brings thousands of people downtown to enjoy professional and amateur bicycle racing and family activities amid a festive, high-energy outdoor atmosphere.
The following streets will be closed from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Northampton Street between Centre Square and 2ndStreet
The following streets will be closed from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Northampton Street from Centre Square to Larry Holmes Drive
- 3rd Street from Centre Square to Ferry Street
- Ferry Street between 3rd and Sitgreaves streets
- Sitgreaves between Church and Larry Holmes Drive
The following streets along the Easton Twilight Criterium will be closed from 1 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
- Larry Holmes Drive between 3rd and Northampton streets
- Northampton Street (Between North 4th and Church streets)
- North Sitgreaves Street (Between Church Northampton streets)
- North 2nd Street (Between Church and Northampton streets)
- Half of Pine Street intersecting with South 3rd Street
- Ferry Street intersecting with South 3rd Street will be one way
- South portion of Larry Holmes Drive
Criterium Race Route:
- The start line is at Centre Square from the Northampton entry point. (First race is scheduled for launch by 2:15 pm.)
- Rounding about to the left onto South 3rd Street
- Left turn onto Ferry Street
- Right onto S. Sitgreaves Street
- Left onto Larry Holmes Drive
- Left rounding back to the Northampton Street finish-line.
Vehicular traffic into or out of the area enclosed by the race course will not be possible after 1 p.m. Detours will be posted. Police will be available to direct traffic during these hours. Maps of the race courses are available at https://eastontwilightcrit.com/festival-info/race-schedule/.
The Easton Twilight Criterium is a short, technical bike race course where the pros will reach speeds above 40 miles per hour. Before the Women’s and Men’s Professional bike races, there are other activities such as the Community Ride presented by Crayola, Junior, Masters, and Amateur races in addition to a one-mile footrace and wheelie competition.
Event organizers changed the finish line for 2023 to Northampton Street, providing a slight uphill finish to change the race dynamics and bring more of the action to Easton’s iconic Centre Square.
For safety, spectators must cross only at designated course crossings. Bicycles are incredibly quiet, and while spectators are encouraged to move around the course to see the race from different views, only select course crossings are available for passage across the course. Riders come around the corners very fast and very close to the barricades. Spectators must not lean over or hang anything on the safety fencing around the course’s perimeter. The fencing protects the riders and spectators and should not be moved.
Executive director of Greater Easton Department Partnership, Jared Mast, says, “We realize that, even on a holiday weekend, the road closures required to have an event like this inconvenience some of our downtown residents and businesses. We have worked with our race production partners to be more strategic with a rolling system of closures to get ready for the free Community Ride presented by Crayola, which kicks off at 2:15 p.m. We are also trying to have our series of events welcome more participants, including a wheelie competition and a 1-mile dash for our sporting friends.
“This is a terrific opportunity for local businesses to engage with the community as their support and participation is encouraged – providing racers and spectators with food, libations, entertainment and merchandise. As the Twilight Criterium draws in crowds from around the mid-Atlantic area and beyond, the racers bring excitement and energy to Easton citywide throughout the day.”
Live updates from the event will be posted throughout the day at @eastontwilightcrit on Facebook and Instagram.
Information provided to TVL by:
Jessica Schirripa
